Star Lioness Beth Mead Now Long Odds-On to Win Sports Personality
Forward Beth Mead – who played a pivotal role in England’s Women’s EURO 2022 victory and earned herself the accolade of Euro 2022’s best player by winning the Golden Boot award – is long odds-on to place yet more silverware on her mantelpiece.
Beth Mead was named UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Player of the Tournament after England’s 2-1 victory against Germany in Sunday’s final. ©GettyImages
Following the Lionesses’ heroics on Sunday night, the tournament’s top scorer is now a clear favorite to claim the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) award. Just three weeks ago, Mead was 25/1 to win the coveted prize. She could complete an incredible 12 months by winning the Women’s Football World Cup in August 2023, where England are likely to be among the favourites to win the tournament following the Euro 2022 success.
Claiming six goals en-route to winning the tournament with England, Mead’s Sports Personality odds tumbled throughout the competition. 2/1 was available before Sunday’s final. But following the historic victory, the 27-year-old’s odds were slashed. She is now 4/11 to collect the prize won last year by tennis star Emma Raducanu.
Bookies Are Wary of Leah Williamson
England’s captain, Leah Williamson could prove a fly in the ointment for Mead’s Sports Personality supporters. It is unlikely two members of the Lionesses will be shortlisted for the SPOTY award, and it is possible the skipper would be the one the BBC’s judging panel decides to put forward.
All bookmakers are wary, but BetVictor offers the industry top price about Williamson. She is 12/1 with the firm. Meanwhile, Ronnie O’Sullivan – favorite to win the prize since he took his seventh World Snooker Championship title at the beginning of May – has seen his odds drift out from 4/1 to 12/1 (joint second favorite) in less than a week.
The fourth name down the SPOTY betting list is Harry Kane. The men’s team captain – who posted a good luck message on his Twitter account before Sunday’s final – will be hoping to repeat the Lionesses’ success when England plays in the World Cup scheduled to start in late November in Qatar.
Good luck @Lionesses ! The whole country is behind you so go get that win! 🏴🙌 pic.twitter.com/XJ0046KbcT
— Harry Kane (@HKane) July 31, 2022
Kane finished third in the 2018 SPOTY. A deep run for England in the World Cup would see his current 14/1 odds cut dramatically. However, it may take an appearance in the final – on December 18th which is also the date currently reserved for SPOTY 2022 – for the Tottenham striker to challenge Beth Mead’s mantle as the clear favorite.
Can Jake Wightman Cause Another Shock?
The leading novelty betting sites offer SPOTY each-way terms of positions 1-2-3 with 1/5 the odds. It makes Jake Wightman an interesting betting proposition. The runner won gold in the 1500 meters at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in July.
His shock success represented the first global gold in a middle-distance event for a British male athlete since Sebastian Coe took the 1500 meters at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. 8/1 in the immediate aftermath of his success, Wightman is now a tasty 25/1.
The next three SPOTY candidates can all be backed at 33/1. They are Hollie Doyle – the female jockey that finished third in the 2020 SPOTY – three-time nominee Tyson Fury and cricketer Jonny Bairstow.
